Machines



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l'.

, G. E. NYE.A GAM ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOB. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 416,488. Patented 1390.8, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. E. NYE.

GAM ADJUSTING MEGHANISM POR CIRCULAR KNITTING lvLfLcHINES.v

No. 416,488. Y Patented Deo. 3,-1889.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- (No Model.)

' G. E. NYE. CAM ADJUSTING MEGHANISM FOB. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 416,488. Patented Deo. 3, 1889.

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WMM/wma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,v

GEORGE EDWARD NYE, OF' PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD TREDIOK, OF SAME PLACE.

CAM-ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,488, dated December 3, 1889. Application filed January .9, 1889. Serial No. 295.840. (No model.)

To cZZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, GEORGE EDWARD NYE, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in'Oam-Adjusting Mechanism for Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that class of machines in which a series of horizontal reciprocating needles disposed radially in a so-called dial-plate are used in connection with a series of vertical reciprocating needles mounted in a revolving cylinder and operated by stationary adjustable cams.

It relates to improved means for effecting the vertical adjustment of the cams which control the .vertical needles.

As the machine may be in all other respects of ordinary constructiomhave shown only such parts as are necessary to an understanding of my improvements. f

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with a portion shown in vertical section on the line Z Z of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one side of the cylinder and adjacent parts on the line a: os of Fig. l, the dialplate being omitted. Fig. 4 is an inside face view of a portion of the cam-ring and adjacent parts. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a perspective of theexternal cam-adjusting ring. Fig. 7 is a view of one of the cam-adj ustinglevers and its adjustable bearings. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable needle-depressing cams. Fig. 9 is a side elevat-ion showing a modified form of the cam-adjusting ring. Fig. 10 is a cross-section through one side of the frame,

showing the adjusting devices applied to av needle-lifting cam.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a stationary bed or base-plate provided on opposite sides with rigid standards a., which give support to a cross-bar or yoke a.

B represents the rotary needle-cylinder,

`supported by the annular gear or gearring, as it is commonly termed b, seated in the base-plate and sustained by the under- 5o lying plate b', so that it may revolve with entire freedom.

O represents the so-c-alled dial, lying in a horizontal position Within the upper end of the cylinder. It is, composed, as usual, of the dial-plate proper c, to sustain the needles, and the overlying cam-plate c. These parts are constructed in all respects in the ordinary manner, and as they form no part of the present invention a detailed description thereof 6o is unnecessary. The dial as a whole is susl pended from the cross-bar a by a bolt c2, screwed or otherwise iiXed rigidly into the bar, as usual. I provide the upper ends of the standards a and the under face of the cross-bar d with extended flat faces in a true horizontal position, so that the cross-bar may be shifted horizontally upon the standards Without permitting it to rock or tip in any direction. I provide the ends of the bar with 7o vertical holes a2, and through these holes I pass the vertical bolts a3, of a diameter less than the holes, either with orl without the application of intermediate plates or washers a4 beneath the heads of the bolts. When the bolts are loosened, the cross -bar may be shifted at either end, so as to bring the dialplate in the precise position required, after` which by simply tightening the bolts the parts may be secured rigidly in place.

I do not claim herein the above-described mode of securing the cross-bar, the same being the subject of a separate application for patent executed April 20, 1889.

D D, dac., represent a series of stationary needle-depressing cams grouped at suitable distances apart around the cylinder in position to act upon the heels of the needles, as in other machines in general use. The means for supporting and adjusting these cams is 9o the leading feature of my invention. The cams are seated against the inner face of an annular wall or ring a, rising rigidly from the bed plate or frame. They may be guided thereon in any ordinary or suitable manner which will permit of their rising and falling. The preferred construction is that shown in the drawings, in which each cam is provided with a \f'ertical rib d, seated in a corresponding groove in the wall, and the wallprovided with vertical ribs d', which bear against the vertical ends of the cams, as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and The ribs d are inserted and lixed rigidly in grooves in the supportingwall. This construction is advantageous in that it permits the frame to be cheaply finished in a lathe, after which the ribs d are applied thereto.

Each cam is mounted on the inner end of a supporting and adjusting lever, which extends outward through the suppo1ting-wall ai into an oblique or spiral g'roove in an external ring F, arranged to be revolved at will around the outside of the wall a5. The form of this ring and its lever-operatin g grooves f is plainly shown in Fig. G. The levers may be supported and connected to the cams in any appropriate manner. I prefer, however, to insert their ends into holes c, formed in the cams for the purpose, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and S, and to construct the supports in the manner shown in detail in Figs. 3 and '7. In this construction each lever is formed at the middle with aspheroidal portion c, seated at its under side in a cup or bearing e, sustained by a spring c. A screw e2, cupped at its lower end, bears on top of the portion. c". The spring forces the bearingcup upward, maintaining a close connection between the parts and compensating automatically for wear. By turning the screw downward the fulcrum-pointof the lever may be lowered and thus the height of the cam altered, so as to bring the entire series of cams on a common level. The bearing-cups and the springs e are all seated in a hole drilled downward into the wall (vlot the bedplate. Y

The external ring F is commonly provided with a handle f, or other appropriate means by which it may be turned, and is also provided with a series of graduations f'e to be read in connection with a mark or index f on the supporting-wall or other stationary part of the machine. Then the ring is turned in one direction, it depresses the outer ends et' the levers and causes the entire series of cams D to be raised simultaneously and equally, and when turned in the opposite direction it depresses the cams in like manner. In this way the operator is enabled instantly to vary the distance te which the needles are de pressed, so as to control the tightness of the stitch 0r to prevent the casting ot' the stitches from latched needles.

In orderto effect the elevation of the needles a series of lifting-cams (i are mounted on the inside of the wall a5. These lifti 11g-cams,

which form no part ot' my invention, may be in ordinary iorm, either stationary or adjustable, as preferred.

I have represented in the drawings a ma chine for eight sets ot cams anda corresponding number of thread-guides, whereby the machine is enabled to lay eight threads into the fabric successively at each revolution in a manner practiced in ordinary machines and familiar to every person skilled in the art. Ol' course the number of cams may be increased or diminished at will.

To prevent accidental rotation ol the camadjusting ring F, I- provide a setfscrewf", passing through a horizontal slotf8 in the ring into the stationary wall of the frame.

It will be understood that the essence of my invention as regards the adjustment of the lcams consists in the employment of levers which support the individual cams in connection with a rotary ring having inclined slots or bearings to operate the entire series of levers, and obviously the details are susceptible of any modification within the range of mechanical skill, provided the mode el operation hereinafter described is retained.

Thile I prefer to provide the ring F with the oblique lever-controlling slots, the slots may be arranged horizontally in the ring, as shown in Fig. 9, and the ring adapted to rise and fall bodily as it is turned, byprovidingit with oblique slots fi, to receive stationary supporting-pinsfi. The ring thus adapted to rise and tall actuates the lever in substantially the same manner and with the same effeet as the ring shown in Fig. 6.

While my cam-adj usting device is designed mainly for use in connection with the upper or needle-depressing` cams it may be applied in like manner to adjust the loweror needleelevatingl cams, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

I am aware that vertically-adjustable cams have been operated in a knitting-machine by means of external rings connecting directly with studs projecting rigidly from the cams, and to such combination, which is open to various practical objections, I lay no claim.

IOO

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- l. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a wall or support, a series of levers mounted therein, needle-actuating cams mounted on the inner ends ol the levers, and a rotary adjusting-ring common to the series of levers, said parts constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown.

2. The frame or bed having the annular wall or support a5, the needle-operating cams connected by upright guides to said wall, the levers mounted in the wall and engaging the respective cams, and the external rotary ring provided with the oblique grooves to receive the ends of the levers, whereby the rotation of the ring is caused to raise or lower the cams in unison.

3. In combination with a needle-operating cam I), its adjusting-lever, and a lever-adjusting ring, the lever-suppert consisting of a bearing e, a supporting-spring c', and a bearing-screw e2, arranged substantially as shown. 1 1

4. In combination with the cam and an adn IIO j usting-ring, the intermediate lever having able bearings for the respective levers, the spheroidal bearing-surface and the cupped whereby the cams may be independently ad- 1o supports therefor. justed in relation to each other and the rin g'.

5. In a knitting-machine, the series of neelle-actuating cams, an external ring, as de- GEORGE EDWARD NYE" scribed, and intermediate levers connecting Witnesses: the ring with the respective cams, in combi- FRANK A. NYE,

nation with independent vertically-adjust- JOHN C. BREWIN. 

